True Brit: Burberry Beauty Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

The Transformers star reveals her beauty secrets, and what it's like being the face of Burberry's newest fragrance

Most Read

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley makes a killer first impression. She met Michael Bay when he directed her strutting through the desert for the Victoria's Secret 2009 Christmas commercial, and without uttering a word in the 90-second spot, she impressed Bay so much that he cast her as his female lead (replacing Megan Fox) in last summer's Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Before the silver screen, there was Burberry: Since 2008, she's been a face of the fashion house. When the brand released a new fragrance, Burberry Body, Huntington-Whiteley was the logical, er, body for the job. When you meet the 24-year-old, it's clear why she's on the speed dial of such disparate talents as Bay and Christopher Bailey: She's funny, engaging, and refreshingly candid ("How do I get this body? I go to the gym—a lot").

First things first—those trademark lips! How do you care for them?
I use Lucas' Papaw Ointment religiously, especially when trav­eling. I also like to use a lip scrub, but when I don't have one, I just rub the edge of my towel to buff away dead skin after I wash my face. I genuinely don't like a lot of bright color on my lips. They're red anyway, so I keep them really natural.

What's your off-duty routine?
I do my eyebrows every day—that's my thing. I use a Laura Mercier brow powder and a little brush. I just fill them in and then stick them down with brow gel. It really changes my appearance and makes me look more awake.

You've modeled since you were 16. What's the best tip you've picked up?
To mix products and use them for more than one thing. I don't travel with a lot of makeup, so I keep the palette neutral. I carry brown eyeliner and bronzer and smudge them on the lid to create a shadow, or dab a little blush on my lips.

How does a movie set compare to a photo shoot?
The biggest difference is that there isn't the luxury of retouching—the makeup has to be perfect the first time. Thinking about the continuity of my look was also interesting. Throughout Transformers, [my character becomes] more distressed, so the makeup artist and hairstylist would take lots of photographs when I finished a scene so they knew where to pick up; it required a lot of concentration and attention.

Any product MVPs on set?
My hairstylist used Klorane dry shampoo because I was really sweaty from running around. I also had to be very tan, so I used St. Tropez self-tanner once or twice a week—depending on how often Michael Bay thought I needed it.

Who are your beauty icons?
I love women with quirks, such as Anjelica Huston. Her beauty is natural and individual. There's this idea that you have to have perfect teeth and your nose has to be the right size, but I think having a quirk shows your true identity.

What's your red-carpet approach?
I love long, simple dresses but with sexiness, like being backless or having a slit. For the London premiere, Christopher Bailey and I spoke about my dress, and I said I wanted to look like Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface. I loved how her body spoke for the dress; the dress didn't wear her.

You're the face of Burberry Body, so I have to ask: What's your fitness routine?
I do vigorous resistance training at the gym. I also recently got into yoga. Exercise is where it starts for me. If I'm in the gym and getting into shape, I find that I generally take better care of myself.